| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): $335–$875; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $4,750; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Need-based financial assistance for application and program costs: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Based on family income, family size and available COSMOS resources. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served after registration until funds run out; one camp per child each summer; extended care is not covered.; Merit-based STEM scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Require a student application and a teacher recommendation.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based partial scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Application fee: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Non-refundable; fee waivers can be requested.; Need-based financial assistance for application and program costs: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Based on family income, family size and available COSMOS resources. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served after registration until funds run out; one camp per child each summer; extended care is not covered.; Merit-based STEM scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Require a student application and a teacher recommendation.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based partial scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 11–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: California high school students only; Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Demonstrated academic excellence (a typical COSMOS student has a GPA of 3.5 or above) | Ages 7–17; Requirement: Each camp has its own age band, based on the camper's age on the first day of that camp | Citizenship: US citizen; Citizenship: US permanent resident; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Strong understanding of English |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 19, 2026; Ends August 1, 2026; 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA | University Park, PA | Troy, NY |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Each of six campuses accommodates roughly 160-200 students, and clusters typically enroll 20-25 with a commonly reported 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Admissions are competitive and based on academic merit relative to the selected topic, but applicant count and statewide acceptance rate were not published. Application materials: Online application with one personal statement; One teacher recommendation (two recommended) | Selection: Most camps registered until capacity and many reached full or waitlist status. Biotech and named scholarships used additional application review; acceptance rates are not published. Application materials: For merit scholarships: scholarship-specific student work and teacher recommendation | Application materials: Essay; Recommendations |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22Source 7 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-09 |
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